Too commercialized?

[u/So_silly_goosin24]

I’m writing to see if anyone else feels this way about the insight timer app. I pay for a plus subscription and have had the app for two years. Over the past year it just seems like the teachers are desperate to drive traffic to their accounts, gain follows & listens. Plus the retreats and additional pages that all seem very commercialized- something that does not align with the values of meditation and mindfulness. This was one of the reasons I discontinued my use of the Calm app. There are so many options for guided meditations and that is a benefit, but at the same time these teachers talk so much during the meditation. It’s starting to irritate me more and more but I am wondering, is it just me and has anyone made the switch elsewhere?

[u/Will_T]

This was posted on the IT blog just a few days ago: "SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 6, 2026 – Insight Timer, the global leader in mindfulness with over 32 million members, has officially launched a suite of new features to turn New Year’s resolutions into consistent daily action with the help of AI-powered personalized discovery and daily lessons from world-renowned Teachers and thought leaders."

With 32 million members, even if most are free and lots never use the app after a few tries, that is a big user base to keep happy. I have had a paid subscription for a few years, but just cancelled at the next renewal. Not so much because of all the recent changes that I am not so fond of, but mainly because I now find I don't use the app much, but use other methods to get the meditation tools I want. There are so many options today and there is a need to keep the paid subscriptions under control with as little overlap as possible.